bleaching agent
Noun
Meaning
an agent that makes things white or colorless
Source: WordNetSynonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Examples
Bleached flour is artificially aged using a bleaching agent, a maturing agent, or both.
Chlorine gas - both a bleaching agent and a maturing agent, but one that weakens gluten development.
Sulfur dioxide is also used as a bleaching agent, and helped to lighten the color of molasses.
On a practical basis, Berthollet was the first to demonstrate the bleaching action of chlorine gas, and was first to develop a solution of sodium hypochlorite as a modern bleaching agent.